Abstract

Eastern Australian forms of the Australian endemic genus Hovea R.Br. have proved taxonomically difficult. A morphometric analysis of eastern forms, excluding the morphologically distant Hovea longipes Benth., is presented. This analysis provides the basis for a taxonomic revision and keys, which are also presented here. Of the 31 species recognised, the following 17 species are described here as new: H. angustissima, H. asperifolia, H. clavata, H. cymbiformis, H. densivellosa, H. graniticola, H. impressinerva, H. lorata, H. magnibractea, H. nana, H. nitida, H. parvicalyx, H. pedunculata, H. similis, H. speciosa, H. tasmanica, and H. tholiformis. A new subspecies, H. asperifolia ssp. spinosissima, is also described. Hovea ramulosa A.Cunn. ex Lindl., H. apiculata A.Cunn. ex G.Don and H. heterophylla A.Cunn. ex Hook.f. are reinstated as species.